The Ancient Volcanoes of Southern Scotland
Dr. Stephen Blake
Tuesday, 14th January 2025
Eastgate Theatre, Peebles, 7.30 p.m.
The scenery and bedrocks of southern Scotland include many ancient volcanic rocks, some more than 450 million years old. Arthur’s Seat, North Berwick Law, the Eildons, and Tinto Hill are only a few of the local landmarks formed by volcanic action. Less well-known examples, including volcanic ash layers deposited on the floor of long-gone oceans, abound. Their modern equivalents were produced by activity ranging from some of the most explosive and notorious eruptions of human history to hidden seafloor volcanoes.
Using examples of volcanic eruptions from the present-day, we will see that the rocks of southern Scotland record several episodes of Earth’s relentless activity. Additionally, the volcanic rocks of our region have been, and indeed continue to be, globally significant to the scientific understanding of how the Earth works as a planet.
Steve grew up in Montrose and studied geology at St Andrews and Lancaster Universities.
He has worked in volcanology research at the Australian National University, the University of Auckland and, for most of his career, at The Open University in Milton Keynes.
His favourite volcanoes are in Iceland and New Zealand.
